Ava Canning produced a superb spell of 1-9 from four overs to set Ireland on the way to an 11-run victory over Pakistan at Clontarf yesterday and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three T20 international series.

The Girls in Green were bowled out for 142 and after a solid powerplay from the visitors the momentum swung to the home side as Leinster medium-pacer Canning and leg-spinner Cara Murray turned the screw.

Canning bowled her four overs off the reel, including a maiden, and Pakistan had no answer to her stock ball which is delivered from wide of the crease and swings into the batter, with a packed off-side field.

Orla Prendergast took wickets at the top and bottom of the innings for figures of 3-28 which allied to 29 runs with the bat won her the Player-of-the-Match award.

“Ava’s was an incredible spell,” Prendergast said. “Four overs on the trot and one of those at the end of the powerplay - which is always the trickiest to bowl.

“She gave them very little width and really attacked the stumps which is what she was asked to do.

“Clontarf is a hard ground to defend a score on because shots run away to the boundary that wouldn’t on other grounds.”

Amy Hunter top-scored with 37 from 30 balls, including five boundaries, but Leah Paul was the pick of the batters, playing a gloriously impudent reverse sweep in her 28 off 19, while Laura Delany hit the only six of the innings.

The victory stretched Ireland’s winning streak in T20 internationals to eight and skipper Gaby Lewis is targeting another clean sweep with matches to follow at the same Castle Avenue ground tomorrow and on Sunday.

“We can’t get complacent, we have to keep improving,” Lewis said. “Yeah, we got the win but we’re looking to take a 3-0 here and we’re very confident we can do that.”